Getting a free chainsaw to run for the first time in over 10 years

So what’s on the operating table? a 1999 Craftsman 18-in bar Chain Saw.

The first thing Dad attempted to do was start removing shrouding and clean up the oil soaked dirt and grime. That’s when he found the first problem, there was something rattling in the gas tank. The fuel lines have hardened from years of gasoline exposure and crumbled into pieces. This is common and Amazon has kits specifically for this problem. He replaced the fuel lines, fuel filter, and the spark plug and put the chainsaw back together.

Unfortunately it wouldn’t start, Dad can smell gas while he kept pulling the starter cord so the cylinder got fuel. He pulled the spark plug and checked for spark. That wasn’t it. the only thing he could think is the carburetor metering diaphragm has become stiff and it is just flooding. So, fire up the part cannon, we’re replacing the carburetor.

At this point, Dad has put $20 into this repair and any more parts would start reducing the ROI thus he drew the line here. Fortunately, the replacement carburetor was the ticket and…

Unfortunately, the carburetor was a generic and the choke is not in the same location. It still “chokes” but the cylinder floods very quickly. It seems the chainsaw starts better with full throttle. Now to find a better chain…